Master's thesis on CO2-neutral air and sea transport operations awarded prize

Zink wrote his thesis in the Department of Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Kassel in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE. In his work, Zink paid particular attention to the so-called Power-to-X (PtX) technology for producing synthetic fuels from electrical energy. It is considered a key technology on the road to climate neutrality, particularly in the maritime and aviation sectors, which are still dependent on fossil fuels. PtX fuels made from synthetic hydrocarbons - produced from green hydrogen - could replace these.

Christoph Zink's presentation and discussion of his master's thesis in front of an expert audience put him ahead of three finalists in the final round for the Helmut Schaefer Prize. The presentations were included in the final evaluation by the Helmut Schaefer Committee, consisting of Dr. -Ing. Serafin von Roon, Prof. Dr. -Ing. Wolfgang Mauch and Prof. Dr. -Ing. Ulrich Wagner of the Research Center for Energy Economics. The award serves to honor excellent students in the field of energy economics and technology and thus also honors the lifetime achievement of the long-time Scientific Director of the Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft e. V., Prof. Dr.-Ing. Helmut Schaefer, as an advocate for more energy efficiency in all areas. The award has been presented annually since 2019.

The fuel requirements for these sectors determined in Christoph Zink's final thesis, as well as his calculations on the economic viability of various such CO2-neutral ship propulsion systems, contributed to the development of Fraunhofer IEE's global PtX Atlas. This shows the potential for PtX technologies worldwide, or more precisely: where the CO2-neutral fuels can be produced sustainably, at what cost, in what quantity, and what the costs of exporting them are. It serves as an information platform for business, politics and associations not only nationwide but also internationally. Following his master's thesis at the University of Kassel, Christoph Zink has also been hired as a research associate by Fraunhofer IEE.